Bryce Hopkins Named 1st Team All Big East, Devin Carter Honorable Mention
The Big East announced on Sunday that both Bryce Hopkins and Devin Carter were named to All Big East teams for the 2022-23 season. Hopkins was one of two unanimous selections to the 1st Team, while Devin Carter was Honorable Mention (I’d love to know who didn’t vote Souley Boum 1st team…).
Of the 15 players selected to the three All Big East Teams, only five were sophomores. Hopkins and Carter were two of them. They are the first PC underclassmen to make an All Big East Team since Ben Bentil was named 1st Team in 2016.
Hopkins finished the season third in conference games in scoring (16.7), second in rebounds (8.6), third in 3-point field goal percentage (.417), and third in minutes played.
The former top 40 national player out of Illinois revitalized his career in Providence a year following his freshman season at Kentucky in which he averaged under seven minutes and around two points per game. He finished this season with ten double doubles, highlighted by the performance of the year in the Big East — 29 points and 23 rebounds in a double overtime win over league champion Marquette.
Carter came to Providence after an All SEC Freshman campaign in which he averaged nine points per game in 18.7 minutes a night. He upped his scoring mark to 13.3 points per game, while grabbing five boards a night.
Carter became perhaps the best backcourt defender in the league this season. He shined in Providence’s 94-86 double overtime victory over Creighton, scoring 25 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
The conference will announce Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, March 8, at Madison Square Garden. Other league individual awards, including Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man Award and Sportsmanship Award will be announced Monday, March 6.
Carter is looking to be the first Friar Named Defensive Player of the Year since Kris Dunn won the award in back-to-back seasons since in 2015 and 2016. Ed Croswell will be in the running for Most Improved Player, but St. John’s Soriano looks to have the inside track on that award. Three Friars have been named Most Improved under Cooley — Kadeem Batts in 2013, Bentil in ‘16, and Kyron Cartwright in 2017.
Providence returns to action on Thursday afternoon when they take on UConn in the Big East Tournament.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut, G, So., 6-5, 195, Gaithersburg, Md.
Adama Sanogo, Connecticut, F, Jr., 6-9, 245, Bamako, Mali
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C, Jr., 7-1, 260, Florissant, Mo.
*Tyler Kolek, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-3, 190, Cumberland, R.I.
*Bryce Hopkins, Providence, F, So., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.
Souley Boum, Xavier, G, Gr., 6-3, 175, Oakland, Calif.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Oso Ighodaro, Marquette, F, Jr., 6-9, 215, Chandler, Ariz.
Kam Jones, Marquette, G, So., 6-4, 195, Memphis, Tenn.
Joel Soriano, St. John’s, C, Sr., 6-11, 260, Yonkers, N.Y.
Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, R-Jr., 6-8, 255, Willow Grove, Pa.
Colby Jones, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-6, 205, Birmingham, Ala.
ALL-BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Trey Alexander, Creighton, G, So., 6-4, 190, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Baylor Scheierman, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-7, 205, Aurora, Neb.
Devin Carter, Providence, G, So., 6-3, 195, Miami, Fla.
Jack Nunge, Xavier, C, Gr., 7-0, 245, Newburgh, Ind. (repeat
BIG EAST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Donovan Clingan, Connecticut, C, 7-2, 265, Bristol, Ct.
*Alex Karaban, Connecticut, F, 6-8, 210, Southborough, Mass.
AJ Storr, St. John’s, G, 6-6, 200, Rockford, Ill.
Mark Armstrong, Villanova, G, 6-2, 180, South Orange, N.J.
*Cam Whitmore, Villanova, F, 6-7, 232, Odenton, Md.
Desmond Claude, Xavier, G, 6-5, 195, New Haven, Conn.
*Denotes unanimous selection